Wheel structure.



M. GOLDSMITH.

WHEEL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. za, 1911.

Patented Aug129, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. GOLDSMITH.

WHEEL STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED PB13.23,1911.l

Patented Aug. 29, E311 mental-y plan view of a entran srarns ramena ersten MANNING GoLDsMIfrH, 0F Deserve, GEORGIA.

To all whom 'it may concern:-

Be it known that I, MANNING GoLnsMITH, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Decatur, in the countyl of Dekalb and State of Georgia., have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Wheel Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a'wheel structure,

to be used in connection with automobiles- ,or-other vehicles, such wheel structure be ingcapable of fulfilling the functions of the ordlnary pneumatic tired Vwheel and at the same time being free .trom certain Illdisad-` vantages encountered in connection with the employment ofpneumatic tires.y

An important object ,otgthis invention is to provide a wheel Structure which is highly elastic and not. liable to disarrangements.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a wheel struct ure, including a pneu matic-tire, `and means whereby such wheel structure ymay be successfully* operated incase such pneumatic tire should become p unctured or the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which .like numerals are employed to designate like parts througl'iout .the same, Figure l is a side view ot' my wheel structure, parts thereof being shown in section, Fig. 2 is ay plan view of the same, parts being shown in horizontal-section, taken on line 22 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on 'the line 2*? of Fig. 1, Fig. l is a fragmetal ring included in the wheel structure, Fig. 5 isa cross-sec tional View taken on lineot' Figff'l, Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the elastic blocks included in the wheel struct-ure, Fig. 7 is an end view of the saine, and, Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragn'ientary portion of the inner wheel, included in the 'wheel structure.

'ln the drawings wherein is illustrateda preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 Vdesignates spokes of an inner wheel, which meet at their inner ends for 'connection with castings 2, as shown at. for forming a hub. spokes 1 are connected with a itelly 4., which preferably carries upon its periphery a metal 'band 5, and upon its opposite'end annular speeieation of Letters Patent. Application iled February 23, 1911. Serial No. 610,176.

`13 (see Fig. I2).

The outer ends of the` 1 with inwardly ratemeaaug. 2e, ieri.

Vof the spokes 1 are disposed annular sheet: metalvcasin'gs'7 and 8, pressed into the desired shape, as shown. These annular' casings are bentl outwardly near their peripheries, as shown iat 9 and 10, respectively, to al'ord an annular space for the reception of a pneumatic tire 11. f i

Disposed upon opposite sides of the spokes 1 and adjacent the hub, are annular plates` 12 and 13, which are ,connected by bolts le. The plates 12 and 13 have slidable engagement with the inner surface of the casings 7 and S, respectively.` rlhe plates l2 and 13 are provided at'suitable points, preferably QOD apart, with pairs of'lugs 15, having suitable coniiection with the same. Disposed betwee-n each pair of lugs 15 is a cornpressible coil. spring 16 the function of which is to yieldingly hold the plates 12 and 13'in engagement with the cas1ngs7 and 8, whereby avv tight union is effected and the dust or the like prevented from entering the wheel structure. are provided near their inner peripheries with bent portions- 17 and 18, respectively, which form annular sockets for theA reception o packing 19, which may be felt or anv other suitable material. l

Disposed upon and suitably connected with the metallic baud 5 is a solid elastic on rubber tire 20, which engages the pneumatie tire 1l, as shown. pneumatic tirerll may be inflated a flexible hose or tube 21 isA provided, whiehgextends between two of the spokes 1 and has its inner end suitably connected witha valve This valve is mounted upon the pla-te VThere may -be any suitable number of these tubes 21. The .tube 2l is madesuliiciently long so that the same will normally be coiled, whereby it' does not interfere with the relative radial movement of the outer casing including the casings 7 and 8 and the inner wheel.

Disposed upon the pneumatic tire 11 is a. metal ring 23, which is substantially U- shaped in cross-section. The inner side of i as shown at 2li, to conform to' the curvature oi the tire l1.. The ring 23 is disposed between the casings 7 and 8 and rigidly connected therewith by bolts 24. The casings 7 and 8 together with the ring 23 foim an outer casing 'for inclosing the inner wheel. The ring Q3 is provided extending annurlar anges or beads 25. As shown in Fig. 4, these beads In order that thetelly 4,

1 are cut away to form a space for the reception of a removable socket 26, which is provided with beads 27 forming in effect, a portion of the beads 25. By removing the socket 26 the ring 23 may be filled with a plurality of elastic blocks 28, shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each of the blocks 28 has embedded therein three or more eoil springs 29. The turns of one spring being attached to the turns of the other spring, as shown. The function of these springs is to reinforce the blocks and to prolong their life without materially affecting their elasticity. Each of the blocks 28 is provided near its sides with longitudinal openings 30 termed therethrough. The sides of the block 28 are slit, as shown at 3l. From the description of the above referred to parts, it is obvious that the blocks 28 are held ,within the ring 23 by the beads 25 fitting within the openings 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. After the ring 23 has almost been filled with the ,blocks 28, the last block 28 is inserted within the socketI 26, the beads 27 fitting within the openings 30. cured in place by screws 32.

Disposed between the spokes l and near the telly 4 are spacing members 33, adapted to hold the easings 7 and 8 'in their proper spaced relation. Each ot the spacing members 33 is pivotally coiilneeted/with casinvs 7 and 8 by a bolt 34.-, which is disposed wit in suitable openings formed through said casings. The spacing member 33 -is splined upon the bolt 34 by means of a key 35, as shown in Fig. 3. One end of the bolt 34 carries a head 36, having a portion thereof disposed between ridges 38, whereby the rotation of the bolt is prevented. Thelopposite nd of the bolt is screw-threaded to refceive nuts 39. The free end oi the spacing member 33 is curved, as shown at 40, to snugly enfrag'e the inner periphery of the when such spacing member is swung outwardly and locked in its'nevv position.

In the use of my wheel structure, when a load is placed 1 n the same, such load will be transmitted to lhc inliated tire 11 and the.

elastic blocks 28, whereby all jars are taken up. The wheel .structure is very elastic since the inner wheel' is capable of moving radially with relation to the outer easing. Should the pneumatic tire 11 become punctured orv the like, by swinging the spacing men'lbers 33 outwardly until they engage the telly 4, the inner wheel may be locked in a concentric position with relation to `the outer casing, whereby the wheel structure may be suci'zessfully operated without the aid of the tire 11. When the tire 11 is inflated, the inner wheel is prevented by frie- This socket is then se.

' bring tion, from slipping in the outer casing. When the spacing members 33 engage the telly- 4, they prevent the slipping of the inner wheel in the outer casing.

Wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and-described is to be taken as a preferred example ofthe same, andthat certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. i

Haring thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In a wheel structure, an inner wheel, an outer casing surrounding the inner wheel, a pneumatic tire disposed between the inner wheel and outer casing, and a lurality of members disposed entirely wit in and pivotally connected with the sides of said outer casing, proper spaced rela-tion for `swinging movement into and out of engagement with the periphery of the inner wheel, to rigidly lock said inner Wheel and outer casing and release the same, respectively. Y

2. In a wheel structure, an inner wheel, an `outer casing surrounding the inner wheel, a penumat-ic tire disposed between said inner wheel and outer casing, a plurality of bolts ings formed through the sides of the outer casing, a corresponding number of members splined upon said bolts and disposedlwithin the outer casing, means to turn said bolts to ment withthe periphery of the inner wheel, and means to lock the last namedmeans in adjustment at different positions.

3. In a wheel structure, an inner Wheel, an outer casing surrounding the inner wheel and comprising spaced substantially annular side walls, a pneumatic tire disposed between the inner wheel and outer casing, a plurality or" members disposed Within and pivotally connected with the side walls ot said outer casing, means to swing said members into and out of engagement with the periphery of the inner wheel, and plates disposed upon opposite sides of and rigidly connected with the hub of the inner wheel to slidably engage said side walls.

ln testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

MAN Nine GoLnsMrrn.

Titnesses Ronnnr C. W. RAMsPnoK, V A. M. Wren.

said members into and out of engegeto hold said sides in their and to be adapted'A movably mounted Within open" 

